Published 6:30 am, Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Brandon Lyon is slowly working his way back from surgery to drain a cyst on his throwing arm.

Brandon Lyon is slowly working his way back from surgery to drain a cyst on his throwing arm.

Photo: Rob Carr, AP

Competition for Astros' closer spot about to begin

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KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Almost two weeks into camp, the race for the closer's spot in the Astros' bullpen, one of the most anticipated and intriguing battles entering spring training, has yet to begin.

With Brandon Lyon delayed in his throwing program after undergoing a procedure to drain a cyst in his pitching shoulder more than a month ago, it has been hard-throwing Matt Lindstrom doing all of the showing off.

That's about to change, however. Lyon threw his first session from the mound — albeit a very light one, in the words of pitching coach Brad Arnsberg — on Monday.

It went well enough that Lyon will throw another light session today as he works to catch up and show what he is capable of doing.

Astros manager Brad Mills doesn't see Lyon being behind the curve for long.

“As of right now, the concern isn't there,” Mills said. “He's a little behind in spring training but not for the season, so we're still anticipating him being able to start the season.”

Roles to fill

The Astros enter this season needing either Lyon or Lindstrom, both newcomers to the team, to deliver from the outset.

With Mills' preference being to anoint one closer, one of the righthanders will win the job while the other will take over the setup role.

“I want to say it's easier in a sense to be the closer,” said Lyon, who downplayed the competition. “Sometimes sixth-, seventh-inning guys, they get worn out a little more because they have to pitch in different situations. That's the toughest part: knowing when you're going to pitch and preparing yourself.”

That said, Lyon doesn't care what inning he pitches.

Whatever their order, Lindstrom and Lyon will have big shoes to fill.

They arrive to join a bullpen that over the offseason lost two of its best pitchers, with LaTroy Hawkins heading to Milwaukee and Jose Valverde, one of the most dominant closers in the majors over the last few seasons, declining arbitration and signing with Detroit.

That tandem will be a tough act to follow.

All eyes will be on Lyon, and not just because of his recent health scare. He came to the team having been signed to a three-year, $15 million deal — one for which the Astros have been criticized in baseball circles.

Cyst grew quickly

Lyon's shoulder problem has added fuel to the fire, given that the cyst first appeared on an MRI exam as part of a pre-signing physical in December.

Small at the time, the cyst grew in a month to the size of what the team described as 1½ grapes. It began pressing on a nerve in Lyon's shoulder, causing weakness in the arm and excruciating pain to the shoulder.

Fast-forward to camp, and Lyon insists he no longer feels any discomfort, although he admits to not yet being 100 percent. He spent the first week of spring training working on long throws off flat ground to build up strength.

If indeed Lyon is able to join Lindstrom on the mound on a regular basis later this week, things could get interesting.

Two different styles

For one, Lindstrom and Lyon, both 30, rely on completely different pitching styles.

Lindstrom, who was acquired via trade from Florida, is the hard thrower whose fastball has been clocked at 102 mph and averages in the high 90s. He has struggled with his command in the past, something the Astros will be watching for.

“He's closed before, and he's got the stuff to close,” Mills said. “We're just going to have to wait and see how he throws the ball here in spring training.”

Lyon, on the other hand, is the type of pitcher who relies less on speed and more on location, with his best pitches the curve and slider.

“He's a late-innings guy, and those guys are invaluable on any ballclub,” Mills said. “With the ballclub that we have this year and with the guys that we lost at the back end, to have a guy like that is invaluable.”

Both have experience in closer and setup situations, but Lyon is the more established ninth-inning pitcher with 54 career saves in eight seasons, 34 more than Lindstrom, who spent most of his previous three seasons with the Marlins in the setup role.

Lindstrom started 2009 as a closer before an injury sidelined him. He returned to the setup role and finished 2-1 with a 5.89 ERA and 15 saves in 54 appearances.

Lyon went 6-5 with a 2.86 ERA and three saves in 65 games as Detroit's setup man last season.

A team player

While Lindstrom said he is aiming for the closer role, he believes Lyon is the leading candidate.

“Brandon's earned every right to have this opportunity, and I know I need to go out there and show the club that this is what I want to do,” Lindstrom said.

Lyon is ready to contribute in any capacity.

“When that bell rings and Millsie tells me to get ready, that's what I'm going to do,” said Lyon, whose locker is next to Lindstrom's. “I don't really care.

“We're all a team here. We all have one goal, and that's to win games. And when teams can do that, jell and get along real well, you can do great things. That's my plan. I'm just going out there and trying to get ready for a season. That stuff will play out by itself.”